[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21519]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0815]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, 
Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake 
Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is 
necessary to accommodate vehicular traffic attending football games at 
Husky Stadium at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 
This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position two and a half hours before and two and a half hours after 
each game. The game times for five of the seven games scheduled for 
Husky Stadium have not yet been determined due to NCAA television 
scheduling.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 
p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 12, 2015; 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 
p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 19, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0815] is available 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' 
box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 
associated with this deviation. You may also visit the Docket 
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the 
Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Steven M. Fischer, Thirteenth Coast 
Guard District Bridge Program Administrator, telephone 206-220-7282, 
email [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Washington State Department of 
Transportation, on behalf of the University of Washington Police 
Department, has requested that the Montlake Bridge bascule span remain 
in the closed-to-navigation position, and need not open to vessel 
traffic to facilitate timely movement of pre-game and post game 
football traffic at Husky Stadium at the University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA. The Montlake Bridge crosses the Lake Washington Ship Canal 
at mile 5.2; and while in the closed-to-navigation position provides 30 
feet of vertical clearance throughout the navigation channel and 46 
feet of vertical clearance throughout the center 60-feet of the bridge. 
These vertical clearance measurements are made in reference to the Mean 
Water Level of Lake Washington. The normal operating schedule for 
Montlake Bridge operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.1051(e), which 
requires the bridge to open on signal, except that the bridge need not 
open for vessels less than 1,000 gross tons between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. 
and 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
    The deviation period will cover the following dates. From 8:30 a.m. 
to 11 a.m., and from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 12, 2015; from 
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 19, 
2015. The times for the closures on September 26, 2015, October 17, 
2015, October 31, 2015, November 7, 2015, and November 27, 2015 will be 
determined, and announced in the Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners 
and Broadcast Notice to Mariners as they become available. Due to NCAA 
television scheduling, the times for the games are not currently 
available. The bridge shall operate in accordance to 33 CFR 117.1051(e) 
at all other times. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship Canal 
ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation 
position may do so at anytime. The bridge will be able to open for 
emergencies and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to 
pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway 
through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in 
operating schedule for the bridge so that vessels can arrange their 
transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges must return to 
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated 
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: August 26, 2015.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-21519 Filed 8-31-15; 8:45 am]
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